Reading time! This one is a bit long so I apologize but...take it up with the Lord.
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-26
Ministry, especially when you’re young, can be really hard to navigate. We can see someone doing incredible things and think ‘Wow, I should be doing that!’ And then we disappoint ourselves when we try that thing and find out that we’re not good at it.
When I was younger, I wanted to be a worship leader. Music is so moving to me and so powerful and I saw so many people usher in such a strong presence of God that I wanted to do it too. But guess what...I am not good at it. If I try to ad-lib, it’s baaaaad. Yes I can sing solo parts and do a great job. I can probably fake it and if that is where I'm needed, that is where I will be but I am not a worship leader and it took a lot of time and disappointment to figure that out.
When we stop trying to be what we think would best benefit the kingdom, God is free to do in us what He actually planned. Verse 18 said, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” You don’t get to pick...sorry.
Every single person is different and no one knows you better than your creator. He knows your faults, your weaknesses and your strengths, even if you don’t. And every single gift from God is important. Like this passage said, if we were all the eye, where would be the sense of hearing?
This also applies to those of us who get offended or hurt when we see someone being used in a place that we want to be. Trust me, I've been there. She gets the solos, he was asked to speak, she was added to that team. But what we forget is that if one member suffers, we all suffer and if one member is honored, we all rejoice.
Grow in God rather than yourself. Let Him guide you into your spiritual gifts because no matter how big or how small they may seem, every single one is vital to the kingdom of God. I would never want to take the place of someone else merely because I feel like I can do it. A good voice without spiritual power behind it is just pretty. A well written sermon without an anointing behind it is a good story. Let God lead you, even if it's terrifying.
We need worshipers, prayer warriors, unexplainable kindness, tambourine players, sound engineers, cleaning ladies (and gents). We need powerful worship leaders and soft spoken preachers. We need puppeteers and friendly neighbors. We need every member because without just one, we are nothing.
Step into your spiritual gifts and kiiiiill it!
Mom-uh-riah
Very well said! 👏🏻